BMH Editor's Blog

The newest building on the Grace College campus, the Orthopaedic Capital Center (OCC), has received the 2007 Excellence in Masonry Award from the Indiana Concrete Masonry Association. The award was presented at the Indiana Concrete Masonry Design Awards Program on January 10 in Indianapolis. Tom Dunn, Grace's chief operations officer, Jeremy Ringger and Terry Emmons from Weigand Construction, and Kevin Scully and Katie Papagiannis from Design Collaborative represented their organizations at the awards program. Weigand Construction and Design Collaborate were the contractors and architects for the OCC project.

The OCC was chosen for the award on the basis of several design features involving the use of masonry in the exterior and interior of the building. The selection was made by a jury comprised of three architects. The OCC, completed in May 2007, is a 56,000-square-foot facility on the Grace campus which is the home of Grace College athletics, chapel, and the school's Business Department. Its main arena can accommodate 2,500 people for large events such as concerts or seminars. There are also classrooms in the OCC, including a video conference room for 100-220 participants. The facility was built in partnership with local orthopaedic companies and provides a major event center for the college and community.

To see an article about the award as it appeared in Building Excellence in Design and Construction, click here.

The Southwest Focus Retreat, comprised of pastors and lay leaders from Grace Brethren churches throughout the southwestern U.S., concluded just before noon today at Rancho Capistrano near San Juan Capistrano, California.

The three-day retreat, which is organized and implemented by Tom Avey and the FGBC coordinator's office, was led this year by the current FGBC moderator, pastor Jim Brown of the Grace Brethren church in Goshen, Indiana.

This year's retreat focused primarily on evangelism and outreach. A special feature was a "fishing expedition" on Tuesday afternoon when teams of retreat participants fanned out all over the Capistrano/Mission Viejo area to engage people in conversation and to share the gospel, if possible.

The next in the series of retreats is at Haines City, Florida, the dates of February 25-27. More information is available at www.fgbc.org.

Don Kendall Rager, 92, Upper Yoder Township, Pennsylvania, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 28, 2008 at Conemaugh Memorial Hospital.

Born November 15, 1915, in East Conemaugh, son of Howard B. and Elizabeth (Boyle) Rager, Don later lived in Portage, Conemaugh, and Moxham. Preceded in death by parents, beloved wife Hannah (Womer) Rager, and brothers Ray and Bob Rager. Survived by children, Judy (Jim) Kovalik, Johnstown, and Tim (Sharon) Rager, Indianapolis; and grandchildren, Griffin (Gwyn) Rager, Indianapolis, and Katie (Jordan) Goff, Charleston, S.C.; brother-in-law Jim (Ruth) Womer; sisters-in-law Nora (Howard) Womer, Lilla (Tom) Womer, and Leah (Dick) Womer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A faithful husband and father, Don was employed by Bethlehem Steel Corp. from 1940—1962, years during which he and several friends founded the Riverside Grace Brethren Church (now Davidsville Community Church). When called on, Don served as pulpit supply for area churches, and made many lifelong friends in the process. In 1962 he accepted the call to become pastor of the Conemaugh Grace Brethren Church, where he served for 20 years, then continued after retirement as an active member till his death.

Don liked to sing harmony, make items from wood, and work crossword puzzles. He will be remembered for his love for Christ and the Bible, his warm smile and sense of humor, his gift of encouragement, and his sense of honesty and fairness.

At Don’s request there will be no public viewing or visitation. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, February 2, 10 a.m. at the Conemaugh Grace Brethren Church, corner of Second and Oak Streets in East Conemaugh, with Pastor Ron Warrick officiating. Private burial arrangements are being handled by Picking-Treece-Bennett Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Don’s honor to Conemaugh Grace Brethren Church or the American Heart Association.

Phyllis J. Polman (May 3, 1922 - January 27, 2008)

Funeral services for Phyllis J. Polman (right), who died January 27 in Warsaw, Ind., have been announced. Friends may visit on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 from 2–5 p.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Ind. Services will follow at 5 p.m. with Pastor Bruce Barlow officiating.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, January 31, 2008 at the Grace Village Retirement Community Chapel, Winona Lake, Ind. Entombment will take place at Royal Oak Memorial Gardens in Englewood, Ohio.

Mrs. Polman, 85, of 188 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, Ind., died on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 10:40 p.m. at Kosciusko Community Hospital.

She was born on May 3, 1922 in Dayton, Ohio to Julia Ann (Boitnott) and Roy H. Kinsey. She was married in Dayton, Ohio on August 22, 1944 to Gerald Bernard Polman, who survives. Phyllis was a homemaker and a pastor’s wife for more than 50 years. A resident of Kosciusko County, Ind. for the past 21 years, Mrs. Polman was a member of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, and also a member of the Good Sam Club.

Phyllis is survived by her loving husband Gerald B. Polman of Winona Lake; one son, Roy Lee, and his wife, Judy, of Cherry Valley, Calif.; and two daughters: Ann, and her husband, Dave Grant, of Jacksonville, Fla.; and Kay, and her husband, Jeff Bowling, of Cumming, Ga. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and one sister.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Grace Village Retirement Community, P.O. Box 337, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590.

For more information, click here.

The Graduate School in Counseling and Interpersonal Relations at Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, will sponsor psychologist and author Dr. Bob Kellemen (pictured) to present a lecture Wednesday, February 6, based on his book Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.

Kellemen will be speaking in the Social and Cultural Issues Class on Wednesday, February 6, 2008, from 6-8:50 p.m. in Mount Memorial 007. All are cordially invited to come and hear the heart and wisdom of Dr. Kellemen on a very important topic.

Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., LCPC, is chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship Department at Capital Bible Seminary, the Founder of RPM Ministries, and the author of Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends (both published by BMH Books of Winona Lake), and Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.

Kellemen has pastored three churches and serves as the co-director of the American Association of Christian Counselor’s Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network.

He has been married 26 years to Shirley. They have a son, Josh, who is 22, and a daughter Marie, who is 19. You can learn more about Kellemen and read his blog at www.rpmbooks.org.

Dr. Bill Katip, provost at Grace College and Seminary, has announced that Dr. Brad Lemler (pictured) will be joining the faculty of the college's business department in fall 2008 as professor of accounting and finance.

Dr. Lemler previously taught at Grace in the Business Department from August 2001 to May 2004. Dr. Lemler has extensive teaching experience with traditional undergraduate, MBA, and online courses.

Dr. Lemler is a graduate of Indiana University (BS,MBA and Ph.D., accounting), Bethel College (Master of Ministry), Texas Tech University (MS, interdisciplinary studies), and Notre Dame (MA, economics) and is a Certified Public Accountant. A copy of his resume may be seen at http://www.hsutx.edu/faculty/resumes/1145.pdf

Dr. Lemler has written and presented many articles, including several recently which explore the integration of biblical principles into the business curriculum.

Pastor Wayne Ayer, whom God recently moved from Norwalk, California, to Minerva, Ohio, reports that God is moving and working among the good folk at Minerva. Here's a quick summary of his note:

Friends, just wanted to give you a quick update to God be all the glory here in Minerva.

- We have had over 50 people saved in eight weeks

- 46 Signed up for the next new membership class

- 35 Signed up for our next baptism class

- 36 Small groups

- And 115 new people are serving God in church-wide ministry. Average attendance is 350.

God is blessing our socks off!

More info at www.gracechapelohio.com

Tim Boal, executive director of the new Go2 church planting ministry, met with the Fellowship Council of the FGBC this week to present the organization's application for recognition as a national ministry with the FGBC. Here is the Council's response, as provided by FGBC coordinator Tom Avey:

The FGBC Fellowship Council has officially responded to the Go2 application for application for formal recognition as follows.

“We enthusiastically affirm the vision and appreciate your leadership in the development of the G0-2 ministry and look forward to the presentation of your ministry plan in April, 2008. The Fellowship Council will consider your application for formal recognition after receipt of that plan. We commit to praying with you through this process anticipating that God will bless the FGBC with both healing and growth through the G02 ministry.”

Formal recognition of Go2 will be processed as a recommendation from the Fellowship Council to the delegates at an annual conference of the FGBC. The next annual conference is this summer in Tampa, Florida.

The Fellowship Council of the FGBC is concluding its winter meetings in Seal Beach, California, today with committee work.

Here members of the Structures Committee (from left, Phil Helfer, Dan O'Deens, and Ron Smals) meet on the lawn of the Seal Beach church. Other committees (membership, finance, etc.) were meeting elsewhere in the facility of Grace Community Church, pastored by Don Shoemaker.

Yesterday Shoemaker invited all his church staff to have lunch with Fellowship Council members. Members of the council will be fanning out across southern California tomorrow to speak and bring greetings in a variety of Grace Brethren churches.

Next on the schedule for many is the Southwest Focus Retreat, to be held at Rancho Capistrano near San Juan Capistrano Monday through Wednesday of this coming week.

The Fellowship Council meetings in Seal Beach, California, are focusing today on report and updates from various national organizations that articulate with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Representatives of all national organizations are answering questions and sharing insights from their ministries with the Fellowship Council members throughout the day.

YIB (Your Intrepid Blogger) is on the road again--this time to Seal Beach, California, for Fellowship Council meetings this weekend, followed by the southwest Focus Retreat at Rancho Capistrano, California, next Monday through Wednesday.

Many of the natorg staff members are also traveling to California to give updates and reports to the Fellowship Council, so it was no surprise that TK (Tim Kurtaneck) from CE National and I were on the same plane from Indianapolis. He was on his way to LAX and I was going to John Wayne in Orange County.

We landed in Las Vegas to get connecting flights, only to discover that his plane was delayed by several hours.

Suddenly, there standing beside me, was Pastor Doug Black from Liberty Grace Brethren Church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, who was also on his way to the meetings as one of the Fellowship Council members from the West Penn District.

He and TK were both on the flight to LAX. The delay was no problem for TK--he was on his way to see his parents in SoCal, and wasn't planning to be at Council until tomorrow.

But Doug was pushing a deadline for the 6 p.m. opening dinner of the Council this evening. He wasn't going to make it.

So he and I teamed up. He changed his flight to join me, and we flew to Orange County together, rented a car, and arrived at Seal Beach a half-hour before the dinner. Only problem--Doug will have to go back to LAX tonight to get his luggage.

Fellowship Council meetings are coordinated by Tom Avey and Sandy Barrett in the FGBC Coordinator's office.

The Fellowship Council is comprised of 12 members elected from geographical regions; four from the East, four from the Central, and four from the West. Additionally, the 2nd moderator elect, moderator elect, moderator and past moderator serve on the council. This year's moderator is Jim Brown from Goshen, Indiana, and the moderator-elect is John McIntosh from Simi Valley, California.

All members serve 1-4 year terms and may not repeat a term. This highly representative, fast rotating board of directors of the FGBC provides valuable leadership from pastors and ministry leaders in our churches.

In meetings this week the Council will:

-Consider plans (including location) of Equip09
-Review plans for Celebrate08 - Igo08
-Consider applications from new churches for membership in the FGBC.
-Consider applications for National Ministry Recognition.
-Consider applications for Cooperating Ministry Recognition.
-Review feedback to proposed changes to the FGBC Constitution and Manual of Procedure.

Members of the Council are scheduled to speak in churches throughout the southern California area this week. I'll have the pleasure of being up in Alta Loma with Pastor Roy Halberg and his good people.

Our thanks to Pastor Don Shoemaker and his Seal Beach congregation for hosting the meetings again this year.

White and Black made it safely--with just enough uncertainty to make the day colorful.

The baby shower ministry at the Marysville, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church is opening doors for young families to become involved in the new congregation. Shower guests make a no-sew fleece blankets for the new babies. With each knot, a prayer is offered on behalf of the mom and the unborn child. To learn more about this ministry, as told in the January-February issue of FGBC World, click here.

FGBC World is the bi-monthly newspaper for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. Printed copies of the January-February issue have been shipped to each church in the Fellowship and may be obtained there at no charge. To read the complete issue online, click here.

If you'd like a free subscription to FGBC World (mailed to your home), click here.

Dr. Don DeYoung (pictured), chairman of the physical science department at Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, and author of the recent BMH book Pioneer Explorers of Intelligent Design, is one of the featured speakers and workshop leaders for the upcoming Bible conference at the East Side Grace Brethren Church in Blacklick, Ohio (Chip Heim, pastor).

Engage 2008 will be held Saturday, February 2, 9am-2:45pm at the East Side church, which is at 7501 E. Broad Street in Blacklick.

Schedule:

The conference will begin promptly at 9am. Check-in for pre-registered attendees begins at 8:30am. The conference will begin with a brief opening session in the auditorium and the remainder of the day will consist of classroom style workshops.

Attendees will have the option of choosing from 4 of the 7 workshops to attend. Cost is $25 per person or $40 per couple, with pre-registrations including lunch. Walk in's are welcome the day of the event and will be charged the full rate, but will not include a lunch.

Questions?: email to engageinfo@gmail.com or call East Side GBC (Columbus, OH) at 614-861-5810.

Workshops Include:

Do We Have the Right Bible?
Join us as we take a closer look at the history of the lost books and exactly who it was that chose the books which make up our Bible today. Dr. David Plaster, Senior Pastor of Grace Brethren Church of Columbus.

It’s the Cell's Environment, Stupid.
How the physical, mental and spiritual environment within your body impacts your overall well being. Richard Couey, Ph.D. Former Professor of Health, Human Performance and Recreation at Baylor University in Waco, TX

Redemption in the Reels of Cinema
Finding God in film and using it to reach out to others. Adam Kipp, Dallas Theological Seminary

Biblical Manhood
A clear picture of what a God-honoring man is and how any man can strive to model these traits. Coach Mike Stanley, Head Coach of the Columbus Crusaders Varsity Football team and National Director for Grace Brethren Men’s Ministries.

Soul Connection: Reaching Beyond the Surface in your Relationships
Come and explore spiritual principles, hear real life examples and uncover biblical truths as you discover how to freely give and receive unconditional love in all of your relationships. Tammy Smith, Ph.D., PCC, NCC founder of Threshold Counseling

Childhood Trends: Changes that are Re-shaping The Lives of Kids Today
Whether you are a teacher, parent, or Children’s Ministry Volunteer, join us as we explore the cultural trends that are putting our children at risk. Barb Hunt, Director of Children’s Ministries at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, Ohio

A Case for Creation
Presented by Dr. DeYoung, President of the Creation Research Society and full-time Professor of Physics and Chair of the Physical Science Department at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind.

Dr. James Childs (pictured), a pathologist and leading layman in the Grace Brethren Church of West Kittanning, Pennsylvania (Mark Cornwell, pastor) continues his rehabilitation from a horrendous 250-foot fall last April.

A recent update by his daughter, accompanied by this photo of Dr. Childs listening to scripture while exercising on a bike, said, "Jim uses the bike about an hour a day--just on his legs and then more on his arms. He can move the pedals about 90 percent on his own.

"Jim thinks the nerves are 'patterned' from so many years of bike riding (50+)and he's excited that he can do it on his own. This is great exercise, has helped with his blood pressure and he hopes it may lead to more movement."

Original reports of Dr. Childs' accidents may be seen in this blog's archives on April 7, 2007. Regular updates from his daughter are available on www.caringbridge.org/visit/jimchilds The family will continue to appreciate your prayers for Dr. Childs' recovery, rehabilitation, and adjustment.

Our eagle-eyed editor, Liz Cutler Gates, spotted a note on an almanac website that this past Saturday, January 19, was the anniversary of the death of Alexander Mack, founder of the Brethren movement. Here is the entry:

1736; Death of Alexander Mack, a German who was one of the founders of German Baptist Brethren, the forerunner of the Church of the Brethren. – The Brethren, an Anabaptist group, emigrated from Germany because of persecution and settled in Germantown in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., where Alexander Mack died January 19, 1736. After his death, his son took over the leadership of the local Brethren.

That founding event--the baptizing of eight believers in the Eder River near Schwarzenau, Germany, will be observed on its 300th anniversary this August 1 and 2 in Schwarzenau.

The six Brethren groups that comprise the Brethren Encyclopedia Project are sponsoring tours and anniversary celebration events. Ted Rondeau of Grace Brethren International Missions is organizing the Grace Brethren tour, and details may be obtained from him at trondeau@gbim.org.

For more information on the Brethren movement check out Complete Writings of Alexander Mack by BMH Books, historical material on www.brethrenencyclopedia.org, and a brief history at http://www.fgbc.org/whoarewe/our-history.cfm

re nas cence -- a rebirth: revival

Pastor Larry Weber of the Grace Brethren Church of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, sends along the following:

You have already published the announcement from the Waynesboro Record Herald that Grace Brethren Church is marking the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2008.

We are praying that the Lord will "throw open the flood gates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that (we) will not have room enough for it." (Mal. 3:10). We are calling it the 100th Anniversary Renascence.

We want to honor yesterday by living today for the Lord and praying for His abundant blessing tomorrow. Our prayer is already being answered.

In December, 2007, a $5,000 challenge matching gift enabled us to give, holding nothing back, and finish the year in the black, fully meeting the budget for the year. This month, in a ministry to Goth teenagers that the Lord has given to us with leadership from Jack Martin, one of our deacons, seven teens knelt to ask Jesus Christ to save them - Praise the Lord!

Several decisions to rededicate lives to Christ, and two baptisms near the end of the year, and now two more baptisms with several couples joining the church are causing us to give thanks to the Lord. On February 10, our church and the Conococheague Grace Brethren Church in Greencastle (Paul Hutchison, pastor) will have a joint baptism service.

Coming up, we have scheduled a 100th Anniversary Renascence Conference April 11-13, 2008. We will have special music and a guest speaker, and our focus will be on Isaiah 43:18 & 19: "Do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing."

With unity and purpose in the name of Jesus Christ, our vision is to tell everyone of the saving power of the Gospel, to live a life of love for one another worthy of Christ's calling, and to nurture and equip God's people for lifelong service. . . until He comes again!

Yesterday's Wabash (IN) Plain Dealer carried a story about two volleyball-playing sisters at Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana. The story featured Amber Birkey (pictured) and her sister, Brittni. Here is an excerpt--to read the entire story click on http://www.wabashplaindealer.com:80/articles/2008/01/17/sports/sports1.txt

Birkey sisters end Grace run

By JASON OGLE, Special to the Plain Dealer

Scan through Grace College's volleyball statistical leaders the past two seasons and you'll find either Amber or Brittni Birkey atop most of the lists.

Ask either sister if individual accomplishments concern them--"No," said Amber, the oldest of the two Southwood graduates.

"The individual stuff is nice, but they don't matter if they don't help the team win."

Last season, the Lancers finished 12-14 and just 2-7 in the Mid-Central Conference, marking their second straight losing season. But not because the Birkey sisters didn't produce.

The following editorial appeared January 17 in the Grunion Gazette, the weekly newspaper in Long Beach, California. It was written by Executive Editor Harry Saltzgaver, who attends Grace Community Church of Seal Beach (Don Shoemaker, pastor).

Religion was mentioned Tuesday at the Long Beach City Council meeting.

It has been too long since that has happened. A few years ago, after protests from ACLU types and what I believe to have been an over-abundance of caution, the traditional invocation to open council meetings was replaced by "a moment of silence to contemplate."

That invocation had been offered by everyone from Baptist ministers to Buddhist monks. I even recall at least one Native American shaman, although I must admit that I don't remember the last time I saw a Muslim Imam standing before the council.

Elimination of the invocation took place quietly - no protests, no banner headlines. It just sort of happened.

That's sad. At the risk of sounding flip and not meaning to, our city leaders can use every bit of help they can get. That's true of every leader in our country, no, our world.

Some apparently felt uncomfortable about a public prayer, no matter who was doing the praying. So be it.

But don't expect religion to go away. My pastor, Don Shoemaker, certainly doesn't.

A longtime Long Beach resident, Shoemaker is senior pastor at Grace Community Church in Seal Beach. He long has been active in area and national religious organizations, and has never hesitated to make his opinion known, particularly when it comes to the freedom to worship.

His pet peeve is the fact the Long Beach Marathon is run on a Sunday, and blocks roads people normally use to get to churches. But that is fodder for another column.

Shoemaker is nothing if not proactive. This time around, he took the ball of Religious Freedom Day and ran with it.

As every schoolchild knows, religious freedom was one of, maybe the, founding principles of this nation. For some time, that freedom has been emphasized as a freedom from religion in government affairs. The other side of the coin has, in my opinion, been given short shrift.

But back to the story. Shoemaker had noticed that the federal government had begun (in 1994) to mark Jan. 16 as Religious Freedom Day. The date is the anniversary of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, passed on Jan. 16, 1786.

So he formed a committee and drafted a proclamation that would make Jan. 16 Religious Freedom Day in Long Beach. Note that it does not say Religious Day. To quote the proclamation:

"Our country has embraced a tradition of religious liberty É where people have been lift free to choose which faith they shall follow or none at all."

Shoemaker garnered support from both conservative and liberal religious leaders for his proclamation. Then he went to his council representative, Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, and got it on the Jan. 15 agenda.

I have no clue what Schipske's spiritual walk is, nor do I want to know. I give her credit for recognizing a basic American right and moving it forward in Long Beach.

Bottom line for me: I'm not asking everyone to pray with me, I'm just asking for the right to pray. I think Pastor Shoemaker made that a little easier this week, and for that I'm thankful.

Now you can have that moment of silence from me.

It is refreshing to get reports of what God is doing in our Grace Brethren churches, whether large or small, whether urban, surburban, or rural. Here are some excerpts from a communique recently sent to his congregation by Randy Todd (pictured) who is pastor of the Grace Brethren church in rural Dallas Center, Iowa (home, by the way, of Dr. Herman Hoyt, co-founder and second president of Grace College and Seminary). Here is a part of Randy's report:

Dear Friends of Grace,

January marked the Todds' first full year of ministry in Dallas Center. It actually seems like we just drove up in that dilapidated old truck packed so tight it poured out when we opened the doors. Some of you are smiling because you were there that day.

Since that day we have come to know and love so many, so quickly, and so deeply. God has smiled upon us through you in so many ways. You truly are a special people. And, we just love the the parsonage. We have the most incredible sunsets seen right through our living-room window! I love the lay of the land here... I don't care what anybody says... Iowa ain't flat!

We continue using Thomas G. Bandy's 2006 article "How To Measure Viability" as our gauge to measure viability in our ministry here at Grace. As we've progressed as a faith community there has been a noticeable change in the spirit, countenance and attitude with in the majority of the people.

-Sunday worship attendance has increased from 30-40 to 65-80
-Sunday school attendance has increased from 8-12 to 40-50 ministering to all age groups
-Youth ministry attendance has increased from 12-18 to 25-30
-Small groups have increased from 0 to 8 groups with 30-35 people meeting regularly
-We've adopted the BILD International Philosophy for Leadership Training with 12 people currently enrolled in the First Principles
-We've implemented Neil Anderson's "Ministering the Steps to Freedom In Christ" -- several people are currently involved
-45 people have successfully graduated Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University
-Giving is up 2.8%
-Our reputation in the community has improved
-There've been 28 conversions, 22 baptisms, 19 new members

It is God who is doing this great work among us as a result of the faithfulness of the folks here at Dallas Center Grace.

I truly believe the church could be on the brink of revival. I've not experienced such a moving of God since personally coming to Christ in 1982. The majority of people are displaying a remarkable faithfulness, availability, and teach-ability and I'm blown away by it!

The reason I'm sharing this on a broader scale is to humbly and hopefully ask that all who might read this would commit to praying us over the hump right into full-blown revival. What is happening here is a great tribute to what God will do when a few remaining people (His remnant) decide to humbly submit themselves to whatever He wants... over their own wants.

I'm just so fired up I can't hardly hold it in. Thank you for allowing me to publicly praise Him before you. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise!

Randy Todd, Lead Pastor
Dallas Center Grace
305 Hatton Ave PO Box 477
Dallas Center, IA 50063
www.dallascentergrace.com

Incoming moderator of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches John McIntosh (center, maroon shirt) and pastor of the Grace Brethren church in Simi Valley, California, sends along this report and invitation:

Tim Boal and I were playing some golf yesterday in a mountainous course in Simi Valley (the Tierra Rejada course).

I backed the cart accidentally into a sand trap and flipped the cart over on me. I escaped with bumps and bruises. Tim saw the whole thing and thought I had broken my neck.

The picture shows us surveying the damage and watching the batteries drip fluid all over our possessions. We waited for another cart to be delivered and we finished the 18 holes.

I am looking for people who would like to play golf with me [at national conference this July] in Florida!

Kurt Miller (pictured), who has served with Grace Brethren International Missions as Mobilization Coordinator for the Eastern Region since February, 2007, has accepted the position of lead pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.

Prior to his GBIM position, Miller was national director of church planting with Grace Brethren North American Missions. Miller will assume his new pastoral duties in March of 2008.

A spokesperson for the Martinsburg church said, “Please pray for a smooth transition and the securing of a youth pastor.” Other pastors currently on the Martinsburg church staff are Robert Russell (senior adults), Brant Leidy (Christian Education and children), and Rick Horner (associate pastor).

Members of the Martinsburg church staff commented, "The Staff, Elders, and Congregation of Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church are thrilled to announce that KURT MILLER has accepted our call to be our Lead Pastor. After waiting a year we feel God has led us the right man to take the helm of our progressing church."

Dave Guiles, executive director of Grace Brethren International Missions, said, “It is with mixed emotions that we announce the departure of Kurt Miller from the GBIM team.

“GBIM is very committed to working with local churches in their quest to mobilize their congregations to tangible involvement in cross-cultural ministries. In his short time with us Kurt captured our passion for this ministry and was well-positioned to make an impact on many churches. He will be missed. At the same time, we recognize the strong commitment to GBIM by the Martinsburg GBC. We are pleased that their new senior pastor will continue this commitment.”

Of this new call, Kurt Miller said, "I love the local church, the preaching of the Word and shepherding people. I believe with all my heart that God is now taking me back to my original calling as a pastor. For this I am elated and resting squarely in the hands of the Lord. Will you please pray for us?

-Pray for the preparation and sale of our house.
-Pray for Anecia as she finishes out the school year and trains a new registrar. She has served as the registrar at Grace College and Theological Seminary for over 13 years.
-Pray for my transition to the church which will take place in early March.
-Pray for the church congregation and staff as they prepare for our arrival."

A native of Corning, New York, Miller worked in law enforcement and then entered full-time ministry in 1976 as pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Richmond, Virginia. Later he served churches in Pennsylvania and Florida. In 1991 he joined the staff of Grace Brethren North American Missions, where he served sixteen years as the National Director of Church Planting.

Kurt and his wife, Anecia, have been residing in Winona Lake, Indiana, where Anecia has been employed by Grace College and Seminary.

TROY, OHIO -- The Miami (Ohio) County Pro-Life Educational Foundation has awarded Chelsey Gingerich, a Tippecanoe High School senior, a $1,000 scholarship.

Gingerich was the winner of The Foundation’s annual essay contest on the value of human of life. She will read her essay and receive her award at the Miami County Right to Life Prayer Vigil on January 20th.

This event will be held at the Hayner Cultural Center in Troy. The public is invited.
She will use her scholarship to attend Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Chelsey is the daughter of Galen and Melody Gingerich, 1987 Grace College graduates, and she is the granddaughter of Pastor Forrest and Arlene Jackson of West Milton, Ohio.

The management team of the new Go2 Church Planting organization has been meeting in Marina Del Ray, California, this past week to develop their strategies and goals for the organization.

Participating in the meeting were Tim Boal, Executive Director; Oscar Chavez, Western US Church Planting Director; Jesus Munoz, Hispanaphone Church Planting Director' Kevin Marsico, Church Planting Networks Director; Nelson Peters, Director of Donor Relations; Randy Disert, Chief Financial Officer; Jim Snavely, Northeast US Church Planting Director; Michelle Kane, Administrative Manager; and Ron Boehm, Midwest US Church Planting Director.

The team began meeting Tuesday to review, sharpen and enhance their strategic plan for the next 3-5 years, ending their work on Friday evening.

The following excerpt is from an article in today's Long Beach (CA) Press-Telegram. To read the entire article, click on http://www.presstelegram.com:80/ci_7949789 Lou Huesmann is pastor of the Long Beach Grace Brethren Church.

LONG BEACH - A Carson man whose wife and 4-year-old son were killed by a hit-and-run motorist remembered them Friday as gifts from God, telling mourners he will see them again one day in heaven.

Mark Mikasa, his other son, Lucas, at his side in a church chapel's front row, joined about 400 mourners at Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach for a service to say goodbye to his wife, Midi, and son Nathan.

"I truly believe that Midi is with Jesus now, which is all she ever wanted," Mikasa said in remarks read from the pulpit by his friend, Chris Ryder. "My sweet love, Lucas and I miss you so much. We love you. We will do our best to honor you."

Midi Mikasa, 34, and Lucas' twin, Nathan, died Jan. 1 when a motorist ran a red light and plowed into their family's minivan in Carson. The suspected driver, Roberto Carlos Paz, 43, allegedly ran from the crash scene and remains at large.

Emmanuel Touaboy (pictured at right), ambassador from the Central African Republic (CAR) to the United States, can quickly list the many natural resources in his country. He is even quicker to note one of the biggest spiritual resources in the country – more than 1,200 Grace Brethren churches. He grew up in the Kassai Grace Brethren Church in Baungi and now he has a message for the Brethren in America. Read about his vision for his country here or see the January-February issue of FGBC World.

FGBC World is the bi-monthly newspaper for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. Printed copies of the January-February issue have been shipped to each church in the Fellowship and may be obtained there at no charge. To read the complete issue online, click here.

If you'd like a free subscription to FGBC World (mailed to your home), click here.

Pastor Glen Sykes of the San Diego (CA) Grace Brethren Church has given us further specifics on memorial service for the late Jack Churchill, retired missionary with Grace Brethren International Missions.

According to Sykes, the service for Churchill will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 19 at Midway Baptist Church, 2460 Palm Ave., San Diego, CA 92154.

Both the Church of the Brethren and the Grace Brethren Church are celebrating the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Brethren movement this year. The following is excerpted from an article in the Waynesboro (PA) Record Herald. Pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Waynesboro is Larry Weber. To read the entire article, click on http://www.therecordherald.com/articles/2008/01/10/local_news/news03.txt

Church to serve up helpings of local history

By Denise Bonura The Record Herald

WAYNESBORO - Want to snack on some history with your lunch? Bring your meal to St. Mary's Episcopal Church at the corner of Second and Broad streets at noon every Friday and learn the history of local churches while you eat.

The church will begin its second Lunch and Learn program at noon tomorrow with the history of the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren at 117 S. Church St.

Lunch and Learn will be held every Friday through the middle of March. Visitors should bring their own brown bag lunches, and coffee and hot chocolate will be provided.

Last year marked the launch of the program, during which visitors learned sign language. The Rev. Linda Watson said it was so popular the church decided to continue it.

“It started last summer when we thought people might enjoy a noontime activity,” added Watson. “Older people don't usually like to come out in the evening, and working people can come during their lunch hour. It's nice to have a program on the history of our congregations. We've gotten some very good response.”

Historical society

After the 30-minute lectures, a short history of each church will be presented to the Waynesboro Historical Society for its records.

Watson said the lectures will include how and when the congregations were established, who their first pastors were and when their sanctuaries were built.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church is celebrating its 100th year at its current location, the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren is celebrating the denomination's 300th year and Grace Brethren is celebrating its 100-year anniversary, according to Watson.

Natalie Rummel (pictured), a Grace College junior pursuing a B.A. degree in journalism and biblical studies, is the editorial intern at the Brethren Missionary Herald Co. for this spring semester. Natalie's first day on the job is today.

Each semester Dr. Paulette Sauders of the Grace College journalism department arranges for an upper-level journalism student to work with BMH for about 20 hours per week in an internship. Natalie will assist editor Liz Cutler Gates in preparing material for the FGBC World publication, will help edit BMH books, will assist in preparing publicity and marketing materials for BMH products, and will be the primary receptionist and phone contact for incoming callers and visitors.

Natalie is from Nappanee, Indiana, and is a graduate of NorthWood High School. She has taken most of her journalism courses and is also the Editor-in-Chief of this year's Grace College yearbook. Her previous work experience includes being a reporter/photographer with her local newspaper.

At Grace College, she is active on the yearbook staff, in the Alpha Chi national honor society and the girls' tennis team. She has also worked in her local church as leader for Sparks and a Sunday School teacher for two-year-olds.

Grace Brethren missionary Larry DeArmey has had all kinds of delays in getting to Chad, Africa, for a planned three weeks of training ministry with Samuel Dadje at the Chateau Bethany near Moundou. Due to a delayed flight he missed his first flight from Chicago, and he now transmits this update as he was waiting in Paris:

Today is kind of making up for all of the bad ones. First of all, the weather is beautiful.

I got up and ate breakfast. I went up to the room and got my stuff ready. It was ten. I called the desk and said I could stay till noon. I took a two-hour nap.

I then got on the shuttle bus. We arrived at one of the terminals to let off departing travelers and pick up hotel bound travelers. I saw a girl waiting to get on, and I said to myself, "that looks like Barb Wooler."

Well, it was Barb Wooler! So we went on to where I was to get off, the last stop on the shuttle run. As I got off, there stood Janet Varner and Bob Combs. All three of them are bound for Central African Republic.

I only had a couple of minutes with Barb and none with the other two. That really cheered me up, however.

Then I got to the terminal and was able to check in right away. Both bags went through without a problem. I had loaded a lot of heavy stuff into my carryon, so now I have to lug that around. Theoretically, because this is a direct flight, my stuff should be there when I get off the plane.

Then the person at check-in said that since I have the gold Air France card, I could wait in the Air France lounge. So, here I sit. Food and drink is provided, so I don't have to worry about that.

Anyway, I think I am on my way. We shall see in a couple of hours.

There is widespread flood damage in northern Indiana as a result of recent rains, and one South Bend television station, WSBT, took notice of a Grace Brethren good deed in a story. Here is an excerpt:

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Flooding is still a concern for many homeowners. In St. Joseph County, an overflowing pond is threatening homes.

It's been a stressful couple of days for about a half dozen people in the Heather Lake subdivision.

The heavy rains and melting snow made for a dangerous combination, and one neighbor told WSBT News he wasn't going to take any chances.

Just ask Mark Kois.

“Another six inches and we probably would have had been standing in a little water right now,” Kois told WSBT News.

Neighbors knew they had to act fast. They used a park bench, which is now under water, as a way to gauge how fast and how much the water was rising.

"From yesterday morning about 8 or 9 o'clock to about 1 or 2 in the afternoon, it probably rose about two feet,” Kois said. “It went up very quickly."

To help get the water out, the developer put in a pump system.

Neighbors also took action. They put up sandbags around their homes to keep the water from getting too close to their foundation.

"Yesterday the pastor from Grace Brethren Church who lives across the way, he had the members of his congregation sandbag the front of his house,” Kois said. “And I went over to his home last night about 6 o'clock and asked for help."

Word has been received of the death yesterday of longtime Grace Brethren missionary Jack Churchill, who had been in ill health for some time. Churchill had been living in San Diego, California.

Churchill was a longtime missionary to Argentina and to Mexico. He was honored this past August by the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Churchill and his first wife, Miriam Sickel Churchill, went to Argentina in November of 1949 and served there until 1965.

According to the AGBM citation, the Churchills were responsible for establishing a Christian testimony in the Rio Tercero area, and later went on to teach at and direct the Bible Institute.

In 1966, Jack and Miriam joined the Brethren missionary team on the Mexican border, where they were involved in leadership training, teaching, and advising pastors.

Following Miriam's death in 1981, Jack continued to minister on the Mexican border. In 1983 he married Rosa, the widow of a Grace Brethren pastor in Mexico.

This past August 20, Jack celebrated his 86th birthday, along with 24 years of marriage to Rosa.

In a Wednesday night prayer meeting at Winona Lake, Indiana, retired missionary Roy Snyder recalled how he and Churchill had sung and travelled together on a male quartet, along with Charles Ashman and Ken Marken.

Dr. Homer Kent, Jr., president emeritus of Grace College & Seminary, recalled that when the collegiate division of the seminary was begun in 1948, Churchill was on the first faculty, teaching English composition. Yet another person present recalled how evangelist Luis Palau, speaking to a Grace Brethren national conference some years ago, paid tribute to Jack Churchill and thanked him in public for his influence on Palau's own life.

Churchill's memorial service is tentatively set for January 19th in San Diego. Complete details will be released as they become available.

Matt Moore (pictured) has been named the new Sports Information Director (SID) at Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana, according to Grace’s Athletic Director, Chad Briscoe.

Moore currently serves as an assistant basketball coach at Grace College and officially began his SID duties effective January 2, 2008.

Moore was a four-year starter for the Lancers men's basketball program from 1998-2002 and finished his career with 660 assists (4th overall). Upon graduation, Moore began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2002-03 at Grace, with his assistance the program finished 24-11 and the NCCAA National Runner Up.

After one year at Grace he moved to Logansport High School where he taught and served as assistant boy's basketball coach for three years under legendary coach Al Rhodes. He also received the distinct honor of serving as an assistant coach for the McDonalds All-American game in 2005.

Moore returned to Grace College as an assistant basketball coach in 2006 while teaching at Columbia City (IN) High School.

"We are very fortunate to have someone like Matt step in as our Sports Information Director," said Briscoe. "He certainly knows our Athletic Department and will be a great addition to our staff. He has had many different experiences that will prove to be invaluable as he takes over the Sports Information position. We are very excited to have him at Grace College in a full time position."

Matt and his wife Anna were married last July 7, and reside in Winona Lake.

David Ogden sends along this photo, taken by Milt Ryerson, just prior to David's marriage to Chris Brown on December 29 at the Grace Brethren Church in Sebring, Florida.

Both Ogden and Brown lost previous spouses to death. For more information and background, see blog posts December 17, 2007 and October 14, 2007 in the blog archives, or simply type "David Ogden" in the search box for the blog.

Best wishes and congratulations not only to the bride and groom, but to all the extended family, as well!

ClearView Church, a developing Grace Brethren church in New Albany, Ohio (a suburb northeast of Columbus), recently was featured in the New Albany News.

Church 'without walls' aims for a neighborly approach

It's a church without a sanctuary -- unless you count Andy Wirt's New Albany area living room.

ClearView Church, which is affiliated with Grace Brethren churches, has only a handful of members so far and meets weekly at the home Wirt shares with his wife Tricia and their two children Seth and Silas on Guston Place in Columbus.

Wirt, 36, moved his family here from the Cleveland area in February 2007, specifically to "plant" a new church.

The group, which consists of a few families, volunteered to help out with the New Albany Chamber of Commerce's recent service day and handed out free coffee at a nearby YMCA that was a poll location on election day.

To read the complete story, click here. To learn more about ClearView Church, click here.

In Southeast Asia, the poorest of the poor are being helped through Asia’s Hope, a new cooperating ministry in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. It’s the vision of Grace Brethren pastor Dave Atkins (pictured at right with orphan children) and his ministry partner, John McCollum, and they are caring for more than 160 orphans, providing training, and establishing micro enterprise programs. To learn more about Asia’s Hope, see Asia’s Hope Makes a Difference in the Lives of the Poor in the January-February issue of FGBC World.

Pastor Chuck Winter from our Sunnyside, Washington, Grace Brethren Church has shared with us this photo and short article from the Yakima paper. Please continue to pray for Pastor Paul Guay, his family, and the Mabton church as he deals with this nasal and throat cancer. (doubleclick on image to enlarge photo and caption)

Dr. Tim Boal, the executive director of the new GO2ChurchPlanting organization, has posted the following note of thanks and explanation on his blog. You are encouraged to check regularly for church planting news by clicking on http://go2churchplanting.blogspot.com.

A Word of Thanks

January 4, 2008

Dear Grace Brethren Friends,

I wanted to thank you for your prayers on behalf of myself and our former staff in these past few difficult months of transition to new ministry. I was pleased to join and then invite many of my former colleagues to join me in this new church planting venture named Go-2 Church Planting.

Here are several important items you need to know regarding this new ministry.

1. The board of directors of GBNAM is recommending this new ministry to you as worthy of your continued support and as the agency to continue church planting efforts in the FGBC in North America.

2. The Go-2 ministry will be seeking recognition from the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches at this summer’s national conference as a cooperating organization. Our application for this status will be presented to the Fellowship Council at their January meetings in California.

3. The new Go-2 Board of Directors has five Grace Brethren Board members (out of seven positions) including; Pastor Bob Fetterhoff of Wooster GBC, who will be serving as our chairman, Pastor Mike Lee of Hope Community Church in Cary, North Carolina, Dr. Jeff Gill, Dean of Grace Theological Seminary, Mr. Kent Semple, CPA from Worthington Polaris GBC, and Mr. Mark Curtis, esq. from our Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach, California.

4. All monies received from Grace Brethren churches and individuals will be used for Grace Brethren Church Planting ministry projects only. No Grace Brethren money will ever be used for Non-Grace Brethren Church Planting projects.

Our new structure does allow for us to have several non-Grace Brethren Board members, but never a majority. In that way we will preserve the integrity of our FGBC church planting, yet avail ourselves of individuals outside the FGBC whose expertise and or capability might help push the church planting vision forward.

Other recognized FGBC cooperating organizations have similar structures, so we believe this fits well within the framework of what the Fellowship of Churches has already experienced.

If you feel you would like more information than what has been publicly presented on this page or through printed releases, I would invite you to call me toll free at 877-222-2048 x. 4303.

Thank you again for your prayers,

Tim Boal
Executive Director
GO-2 Church Planting Ministries, Inc.

Nathan Bryant of our Grace Brethren church-planting team in Canada (shown here with his wife Jennifer and children) has requested that we post the following update and explanation to supporters of Team Canada:

Dear Faithful Supporter of Team Canada,

You may have already received an announcement from Grace Brethren North American Missions, regarding their cessation of operations. If you haven't you can check it out on www.fgbc.org.

This news happened quickly and we have only just recently learned of it ourselves. We apologize for not being able to let you know what was happening until now as we were asked to wait until GBNAM sent out their official announcement first.

Although GBNAM is winding down operations as a mission, we here in Canada are not. We are as committed as ever to establish a movement of churches here in Canada. We had a great year in 2007 and we anticipate many more to come!

While we will no longer be functioning under GBNAM, we will continue functioning as a church planting agency in Canada. When we came to Canada we created a Canadian corporation, "GBCanada" which is a recognized Registered Charity with the Canadian government. We needed to do this to function legally in Canada.

GBCanada has its own board of directors and files charity information returns with the Canadian Government in order to maintain its charitable status. We will continue operating under this agency without change as it has no impact on what GBNAM is doing.

In order for us to continue receiving your U.S. donations, we are seeking 501(c)(3) public charity status for GBCanada so that we can also receipt U.S. donations for our ministry here. It looks likely that we will be approved but it will take time to file the necessary paperwork with the IRS and have them review our application.

If you are currently giving to the effort here in Canada but are concerned about where to send your support, we have made temporary arrangements with GBNAM to continue receiving all designated GBCanada funds as GBNAM winds down its operations. If you are a church and don't need a U.S. tax receipt then you can simply send your support directly to GBCanada (address below).

Once we have received IRS approval, we will be asking all of our donors to give directly to GBCanada which will make things easier for all of us. Until then please continue giving to GBNAM designated to us personally or to Team Canada.

You should be receiving our special newsletter very soon celebrating 10 years of ministry in Canada. It will highlight all of the things God has done in the last 10 years and will also give you the vision for the next 10 years and beyond.

Thanks so much for your partnership in the advancement of the kingdom through the establishment of new churches here in Canada.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns.

Living for the King,

Nathan

GBCanada
7575 Danbro Crescent, Suite 100
Mississauga, ON L5N 6P9

Ralph Wiley (left) passed into the presence of his Lord yesterday. Shown with him in this recent photo are his son, Galen (right), who is pastor of the Lancaster (PA) Grace Brethren Church and his grandson Jonathan (center), who is pastor of young adults at the Columbus, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church. CE National has shared with us this post by Wiley's grandson Jonathan:

Pastor Randy Smith of the Sebring Grace Brethren Church in Sebring, Florida, reported last night of the home-going of Ralph. "Our loss is Heaven’s gain.", wrote Randy, "Ralph ran the race as an example to all of us. Now it is our turn, the baton has been passed. May we be found as faithful!"

Ralph worked for CE National for a few years developing ministries to seniors.

Ralph's grandson, Jonathan, has been an Operation Barnabas leader. He is currently serving in the Columbus Grace Brethren Church in Worthington, Ohio. Jonathan wrote this tribute to his Grandpa.

I’m sure that at some point in your life you have lost a loved one. Some of us have been there many times. Well, it is my time again. Never fun. Yet in the midst of the grief, I sit here knowing how blessed I am to have had grandpa in my life.

You may have known him as Ralph Wiley, but to me it was just “grandpa.” If you knew him, you knew him. If you didn’t know him, I wish you could have known him. He was an extraordinary man. He had a wonderful sense of humor and an enormous capacity to love people.

Everyone loved grandpa. Probably what I’ll remember most is how much he loved Jesus and how much he loved grandma. As the recent years have come and gone, grandpa’s anticipation for heaven and seeing grandma again burned with searing fervency. I wish I could have seen that sweet reunion: the first time face to face with his Savior … and that long anticipated embrace with grandma.

Well done, grandpa! Well done! I know you have rich reward!

Since I learned that the doctor told grandpa that he had about two months to live, I have reflected a lot on I Corinthians 9:24-27. Go read it. We all are running in the race of all races. An imperishable crown awaits only those who run worthy of it. As I think of grandpa’s life, I am deeply impressed with how well he ran!

Additionally, my heart’s passion is stirred even more to live my days with determined purpose to deeply and intimately know Christ … and to win the victor’s crown. As grandpa settles into his place among that great cloud of witnesses cheering us on as we continue to run our races, let’s not fail to keep our eyes fixed on the Author and Perfector of our faith – Jesus! For He has conquered the grave! Jesus has conquered the grave!

Well, as I wrap this up I have a question for you. Actually it is grandpa’s question that he would ask to strangers anywhere. “How are you doing spiritually?” Really, how are you doing? Jesus conquered the grave and is coming again! Do you know Him? Do you really love Him?

Be honest with yourself. Are you more like Christ today than you were two months ago? Don’t take your eyes off the prize! Don’t waste your life! Run with purpose! Run in such a way as to get the prize!

Jonathan Wiley

Pastor Randy Smith of the Sebring, Florida, Grace Brethren Church, sent this message about suppertime Thursday, January 3:

Less than an hour ago (about 5:20 this evening), our dear brother, Pastor Ralph Wiley, made his long-awaited entrance into the Savior’s presence. By now he has met Dorotha again, and is basking in the warmth of knowing Jesus!

Our loss is Heaven’s gain. Ralph ran the race as an example to all of us. Now it is our turn, the baton has been passed. May we be found as faithful!

Pastor Randy

Grace Brethren military chaplain Mark Penfold (at right in photo) was recently promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while deployed with the First Cavalry Division in Iraq, according to the latest newsletter from The Eagle Commission.

The Eagle Commission, which works with Chaplain's Endorsing Agent John Schumacher, is directed by Dr. Larry Chamberlain of the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation. For more information contact The Eagle Commission at P.O. Box 587, Winona Lake, IN 46590 or call (574) 267-5161.

Dr Timothy Boal, Executive Director of GO-2 Church Planting Ministries announced today the hiring of new field staff to begin work with the mission January 1, 2008.

“I am excited about the hiring of new staff to join our team in our continuing efforts to reach North America and subsequently the world for Christ. All of these ministry leaders bring a vast wealth of experience to their positions and represent many years of significant church planting experience," he said. “I am delighted they have agreed to join the GO-2 team.”

Those beginning their ministry with GO-2 on January 1 with titles and ministry descriptions include –

Dr. Musa Asake – African People Groups Church Planting Director, Jos, Nigeria. Dr. Musa Asake is a graduate of Grace College and Dallas Theological Seminary and former Executive Director of the Evangelical Church of West Africa. In his position he has overseen as many as 6,000 local churches and worked with hundreds of church planters both from his home base in Nigeria and through his many international travels. Dr. Asake will provide valuable insight into the strategic planning and oversight of church planting among African peoples in North America and the world.

Rev. Arnold Betoney - American Indian People Groups Church Planting Director, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pastor Betoney has been involved in Navajo nation church planting for more that twenty years. Pastor Betoney has been highly engaged in the training of young men for church planting ministry both through local church-based training programs and through American Indian Bible Institutes. His wealth of experience and understanding of the American Indian culture will provide strategic leadership for this part of the GO-2 ministry operation.

Rev. Ron Boehm – US Director of Midwest Church Planting, Macedonia, Ohio. Ron has more than nine years of working as a coaching coordinator and church planter strategist in the Midwest United States. Additionally, he has started a church and has been trained as a church planter coach, coordinator, assessor, and facilitator. He will oversee not only Midwestern church planting operations but provide valuable insight and help in overseeing the church planter coaching systems of the ministry.

Rev. Oscar Chavez – US Director of Western Church Planting, Lancaster, California. Pastor Chavez has been training church planters on the West Coast and Latin America for many years. He is committed to providing training, assessment, and coaching to church planters and brings his own experience of having started three new churches to the Go-2 ministry leadership team.

Rev. Clive Craigen – Church Planting Mobilization, Chicago, Illinois. A professor at Moody Bible Institute, Clive will provide church planting ministry opportunities for students and help in the recruitment of new church planters for North America and the world.

Rev. Antonio Figueira – Lusophone Church Planting Director, Porto, Portugal. Rev. Figueira oversees the Didiclesia network of church planters among Portuguese speaking peoples. Portuguese is the world’s sixth largest language. Pastor Figueira is a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute and will provide strategic oversight to Portuguese speaking congregations and church plants in North America.

Rev. Steve Galegor Jr. – Albanaphone Church Planting Director, New York, New York. Rev. Galegor presently operates the oversight of Albanian Church Planting among the Albanian diaspora. Albanian nationals have suffered much through the years because of ethnic tension in the Balkans. Pastor Galegor, working through the BILD network, has been developing church planting leaders in both Albania and America for many years. He will continue his work through the ministry of GO-2 Church Planting.

Rev. Jesus Munoz – Hispanaphone Church Planting Director; Tampa, Florida. Rev. Munoz has resided in the United States for many years, planting churches in the Tampa Florida area and providing oversight to Hispanic churches nationwide. An expert in training and church planting, he will provide strategic oversight and church planting implementation programs among the Spanish speaking peoples of North America.

Rev. Jim Snavely – US Northeast Director of Church Planting; Bloomsburg, Pa. A church planter himself, Rev. Snavely brings over twenty-five years of church planting experience to his position. He has developed an extensive church planter assessment system which identifies and prepares church planters for their positions and opportunities. Additionally, he provides networking opportunities for local churches, pastors, and business people who have an interest and passion for church planting.

Boal concluded, "We are very pleased to welcome these new staff members to our team. We look forward to participating together with them in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Contributions and gifts, which are fully tax deductible may be sent to –

GO-2 Church Planting Ministries
320 North 3rd Street
Telford, PA. 18969"

More information is also available on GO2's blog by clicking on www.go2churchplanting.blogspot.com